Spring equalizer



Sept. 8, 1931. s. R. MccLAY 1,822,499

SPRING EQUALI ZER Filed March 28, 1928 aeniecl Sept. S, i931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT oFFlcE SAMUEL R. MCCLAY, OF CANTON, OHIO SPRING EQUALIZERApplication led March 28, 1928. Serial No. 265,400.

y er to lift the weight of the rod together with the weight ofthe waterlifted. There is also some friction of the water and as water is oftenpumped against considerable pressure this increases the load on the upstroke of the rod while the down stroke has practically no load to lift.

The present invention conten'iplates the provision of a spring equalizerby means of which the load upon the pump rod will be substantiallyequalized, whereby it will require practically the same amount of poweron the down stroke which it does on the up stroke, thus materiallyreducing the power and producing a smoother operating pump.

'25 The objects of the improvement are to provide an equalizer for deepwell pumps which will assist in raising the pump rod and the waterraised thereby; to provide for an equalization of vthe lifting andreturn l strokes; to prevent pounding of the pump rod; and to provide aspring equalizer which is practical, eflicient, durable, inexpensive tomanufacture, and easily applied to the pump. An embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which theimproved equalizer is shown for the purpose of illustration as appliedto a power pump, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pumpshowing the improved equalizer applied to the pump rod thereof;

Fig.2, an elevation of the equalizer; and Fig. 3, an enlarged sectionalview of the fio ' 5 central guide for the springs.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

A power pump of any usual and well known design is shown generally at 1provided with the motor 2 arranged to recipro cate the arm 3 in the slot4 in customary manner.

The usual pump rod 5 is connected to the vertically moving arm 3 inanyrusual and well known manner, whereby this rod is continuouslyreciprocated vertically-during the operation of the pump. y

The improved equalizer to which theinvention pertainsrmay be carried bya base 6 and is provided with the rod 7 slidably mounted through saidbase and adapted to be connected in any suitable manner to the pump rod5. It should be notedvthat this rod 7 may, if desired, be a continuationof y the pump rod 5, but in orderAV to adapt the equalizer to standardpumps now in use a suitable connection may be provided between the rod 7and the pump rod. i

This connection may comprise a block 8 having horizontal and verticallydisposed bifurcations 9 and 10, respectively, for co1inection to the arm3 of the pump, whereby thp rod 7 will be reciprocated with the pump roTwo or more coil springs 11 are located around and spaced from the rod 7in alinement with each other. The lower spring has its lower end portionlocated around a guide boss 12 upon the upper side of the base 6, saidboss being substantially the inner diameter of the spring.

The upper end of the upper spring is located around a guide boss 13 uponthe collar 14 against which this spring bears. This collar is heldagainst upward movement on the rod as by a nut l5l locatedvupon theupper threaded end 16 of the rod.

Each of the springs 11 may be of substantially equal length and acentral bearing guide 17 is preferably interposed upon the rod 7,between the lower end of the upper spring and the upper end of the lowerspring. This bearing guide is provided with the upper and lower guidebosses 18 and 19, respectively, 'around which the adjacent end portionsof the springs are located. In order to provide for greater bearingsurface upon the rod 7, hearing bosses 2() may be provided at the upperand lower ends vof this member.

For the purpose of keeping this central Leeaaee being adapted to beseated-over'thernutslQ i which are usually provided upon pumps of thischaracter. The pressure .of the springs 11 against the base 6 will. holdthe pipes upon 15 these nuts and prevent accidental displacement of theequalizer.

yponnecting the rod'7 to lthe pump rod as by the block 8, abovedescribed, side movement f 'the equalizer is also, prevented. lTheequal-izeris thus heldin perfect vertical alinement with'thefpump rodand may thus-be easily and quickly installed upon an electric power pumpsuch as illustra-ted.

` The fact 'that the rod'7 is rthus connected `to the "pump rod and -isslidably located through a guide in thex base 6 together with the springtension upon the base at all times, makes it impossible tor theequalizer to..get lout of., place once 'it is installedas 'illustratedandidescr'ibed.

dThe bearing. guide'17 equalizes the tension ofthe two springs11andtravels up and 'down upon therod`7 in positive-alinement ,therewithThe guide bosses upon this :bearing guide, asfwell as the bosses 12 and1:3 upon 'the base arid collar 14, holds thespri-ngs 'in perfectalinement andtprevents thesame Ifrom" buck-ling.

`'By providing 'the elongated threaded eX- mf-tension 16 upon the upperend of the rod 7 with thenut 15v and amb nut`26, permitsl forVadjustment f the position vof the collar 14, 'thereby adjusting thetension upon the "springs 1111 to accommodate the particular 'pump towhich theequalizer islapplied, thus permitting the same to be adjustedrto its highestpoint of eilicien'cy and permitting the same to be easilyadjusted equally to accommodate deep or shallow wells asdesired.

"It is, of course, understood that power 'fpumps ordinarily range'irom asix inch stroke to as hi'glras a twenty-four `or even thirty inchstroke. To accommodate pumps having the longer range-of stroke, it willbe necessary 'toincrea'setheA number of springs accord-"ingly'andtoprovide additional guides, such as. 17, between. thesprings.

'The 'equalizer'illustrated is adapted for Ya pump having a si?L inchstroke. 'The springs 11 should ea'ch be substantiallyten inchesv'longanioh'about two andlone-eigh'th inches in ldiameter. 'The combinedcompression of 'these lsprings is about' twelve inches, about "half ofwhichina'y be efliciently used a fworkingcapacity, the' balance beingneeded for adjusting the equalizer to attain the highest efficiency.

As the length of the stroke of the pump is increased the number ofsprings should be increased accordingly, maintaining however the sameproportions as to the size of the springsand the amount ot compressionto be 'utilized working capacityi the device.

By maintaining this relative size ot' spring and providing the slidingguide 17 between 75 eachf..pair ofsprin'gs, buckling of the springs isprevented. The springs are thus kept away from the rod preventingfriction and wear on the springs which would be the occasion thereby. 30

From the above it will be evident-that the co-operation et 'the springs11 with the. guide 17-will counterbalance the weight ot' the pump rodand the Awater litted thereby," thus 'material-l Y reducino` 'the uowerretuired' to o'ier- 85 l e l l .ate tie pump; yand theconstantvspringtension on the pumpzrod will equalize" the up stroke andVdown stroke of' the rod and will prevent; pounding of :the rodrandlproduce a smooth even stroke. Although the invention-is illustrated an'dydescribed as applied tov.a,power pu1np,"it should be understood that.the improved equalizer may be=applie`d yto ai hand operated `pump towhich it is equally adaptable with-95 out anyT change in the invention.

lt should be understood thatthe sliding guise' 17 is necessary in orderto prevent buckling ot Ithe springs. lf only a single spring ot thecombined length of the two springs 11-100 were used, the length of thes-pring would cause` the sameto'. buckle `under tension and .to contactwith. the rod, preventing etlicient operation of the device.

fBut by forming the springsf short length 105 as shown and'.interpo'sing4 the-sliding guide between the'erids of. the springs aridhav-ing the. guide bosses 18 thereon, buckling of Athe yspr-.ingsisabsolutely prevented.

I claim:

'1. An Vequalizer fior pumps including `a ibase, a rod slidablymountedthroughthe base and adapted to beconnected to the pump rod,raguide boss upon .thebase surrounding ,the rod,.a collar-,z at .the.upper end portion. of`A 115 the rod, .a guide boss upon said collarsurvbase, a rod.slidablymounted .through the base and adapted to beconnected to the pump rod, a `guide bossuponthe vbase surrounding 180sesam the rod, a collar at the upper end portion of tension of thesprings upon the base holds the the rod, means for adjusting said collarlongitudinally upon the rod, a guide boss upon said collar surroundingthe rod, a coil spring around the rod having its lower end surroundingthe guide boss upon the base, a second spring in alinement with thefirst spring having its upper end surrounding the guide boss on thecollar, and a guide bearing slidably mounted upon the rod between saidsprings and provided with guide bosses receiving the adjacent ends ofthe springs.

3. An equalizer for pumps including a base, a rod slidably mountedthrough the base and adapted to be connected to the pump rod, a guideboss upon the base surrounding the rod, a collar at the upper endportion of the rod, a guide boss upon said collar surrounding the rod, acoil spring around the rod having its lower end surrounding the guideboss upon the base, a second spring in alinement with the first springhaving its upper end surrounding the guide boss on the collar, a guidebearing slidably mounted upon the rod between said springs and providedwithy guide bosses receiving the adjacent ends of the springs, andbearing bosses upon the base, collar and guide bearing for increasingthe bearing surface for the rod.

4. An equalizer for pumps including a base, a rod slidably mountedthrough the base and adapted to be connected to the pump rod, a guideboss upon the base surrounding the rod, a collar at the upper endportion of the rod, a guide boss upon said collar surrounding the rod, acoil spring around the rod having its lower end sui'- rounding the guideboss upon the base, a second spring in alinement with the first springhaving its upper end surrounding the guide boss on the collar, a guidebearing' slidably mounted upon the rod between said springs and providedwith guide bosses receiving the adjacent ends of the springs, and alubricating chamber in the guide bearing, surrounding the rod.

5. An equalizer for pumps including a base, a rod slidably mountedthrough the base and adapted to be connected to the pump rod, a guideboss upon the base surrounding the rod, a collar at the upper endportion of the rod, a guide boss upon said collar surrounding the rod, acoil spring around the rod having its lower end surrounding the guideboss upon the base, a second spring in alinement with the first springhaving its upper end surrounding the guide boss on the collar, a guidebearing slidably mounted upon the rod between said springs and providedwith guide bosses receiving the adjacent ends of the springs, and tubesdepending' from the base and adapted to be placed over nuts and the likeupon the pump, whereby the equalizer in position upon the pump.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed mynaine.

SAMUEL R. MCCLAY.

